# China research and development growth

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/china-research-and-development-growth
> Updated: 2026-10-21T20:00:07.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

China has demonstrated significant growth in its research and development (R&D) capabilities and scientific output. In 2025, national R&D expenditure rose by 8.2% year-on-year to 3.93 trillion yuan, with R&D intensity reaching 2.8% of GDP. This growth surpassed the OECD average for the first time, driven largely by corporate investment which accounted for 77.4% of total national expenditure.

Long-term data indicates a substantial rise in China’s global scientific influence. The share of the world’s total basic research publications produced by China grew from 0.9% in 1985 to 32.6% in 2024. Similarly, China’s share of global citations increased from 0.6% in 2000 to 20.8% in 2024. This expansion is supported by increased funding, with basic research investment rising from $16.5 billion in 2018 to over $30 billion in 2023, and the number of full-time equivalent researchers increasing from 1.21 million in 2010 to 3 million in 2023.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-21: China's share of global basic research publications rises to 32.6%

A new report shows China's share of global basic research publications rose from 0.9% in 1985 to 32.6% in 2024, driven by increased funding and a growing researcher workforce.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chinas-share-of-global-basic-research-publications-rises-to-326

### 2026-10-16: China R&D spending increases 8.2% to 3.93 trillion yuan

China's R&D spending grew 8.2% in 2025 to 3.93 trillion yuan, surpassing the OECD average R&D intensity for the first time.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-rd-spending-rises-82-to-393-trillion-yuan

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Cite as: China research and development growth. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/china-research-and-development-growth